This book highlights the theoretical foundations of and experimental techniques in photothermal heating and applications involving nanoscale heat generation using gold nanostructures embedded in various media. The experimental techniques presented involve a combination of nanothermometers doped with rare-earth atoms, plasmonic heaters and near-field microscopy. The theoretical foundations are based on the Maxwells and heat diffusion equations. In particular, the working principle and application of AlGaN:Er3+ film, Er2O3 nanoparticles and -NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanocrystals for nanothermometry based on Er3+ emission are discussed. The relationship between superheated liquid and bubble formation for optically excited nanostructures and the effects of the surrounding medium and solution properties on light absorption and scattering are presented. The application of Er2O3 and -NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanocrystals to study the temperature of optically heated gold nanoparticles is also presented. In closing, the book presents a new thermal imaging technique combining near-field microscopy and Er3+ photoluminescence spectroscopy to monitor the photothermal heating and steady-state sub-diffraction local temperature of optically excited gold nanostructures.

Ali Rafiei Miandashti graduated from the University of Sistan and Baluchestan with a B.Sc. in Chemistry, and from the University of Kashan, Iran with an M.Sc. degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate under the supervision of Professor Hugh H. Richardson at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University.

 

Susil Baral received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Chemistry) degrees from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He later completed his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, under the instruction of Professor Hugh H. Richardson. Susil is currently working as a Postdoctoral Associate at Professor Peng Chens lab at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University.

Eva Yazmin Santiago graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) with a B.Sc. in Physics. She is currently a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Professor Alexander Govorov at the Department of Physics, Ohio University.

Larousse Khosravi Khorashad received his B.Sc. from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and M.Sc. degree from Tarbiat Modares University, Iran. He later completed his Ph.D. degree in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio University under supervision of Professor Alexander O. Govorov. After one year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Diego, he is now working as a postdoctoral associate at Professor Govorovs lab at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio University.

 

Alexander Govorov is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at Ohio University in the U.S. and a Chang Jiang Chair Professor at the UESTC in Chengdu, China. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the recipient of several international awards including the Walton Visitor Award (Ireland), the 1000-Talent Award (Sichuan, China), the Jacques-Beaulieu Excellence Research Chair Award (Canada), etc.

 

Hugh Richardson received his Ph.D. degree from Oklahoma State University under the direction of Paul Devlin and subsequent postdoctoral training at Indiana University working with George Ewing. He is currently a Professor of Physical Chemistry at Ohio University.

1. Introduction.  

2. Background and theory of photothermal heat generation by optically excited plasmonic nanostructures.

3. Nanoscale Temperature Measurement under Optical Illumination using AlGaN:Er3+ Photoluminescence Nanothermometry

4. Comparison of Nucleation Behavior of Surrounding Water Under Optical Excitation of Single Gold Nanostructure and Colloidal Solution  

5. Effect of Ions and Ionic Strength on Surface Plasmon Extinction Properties of Single Plasmonic Nanostructures

6. Photothermal Heating Study using Er2O3 Photoluminescence Nanothermometry

7. Nanoscale Temperature Study of Plasmonic Nanoparticles using NaYF4:Yb3+:Er3+ Upconverting Nanoparticles

8. Near Field Nanoscale Temperature Measurement using AlGaN:Er­3+ Film via Photoluminescence Nanothermometry